PLANS for student accommodation on the O2 ABC site on Sauchiehall Street have been approved.
The development was presented to the planning committee at a meeting today, June 17.
Plans for the nine-storey building include student accommodation, a food hall, a public courtyard, a bar, a gym, and more.
The councillors first deliberated over whether the proposal contained enough information to make a decision today, and a motion was offered to take the proposal to a hearing.
A vote was taken, and the motion for the hearing was refused, with a vote of six to four.
Then, after questions between councillors, the plans were approved by a vote of eight to two.
Councillors were told that the proposal was made "as compact as it can viably be", despite the "admitted negative impact on the heritage buildings in the area."
Ahead of the meeting, we reported that the Glasgow School of Art said the Sauchiehall Street plans put the rebuild of the A-listed Mackintosh building 'at significant risk'.
And that locals and heritage organisations in the city mirrored calls for a rethink of the design for the mixed-use student accommodation and hospitality site.
Councillor Sean Ferguson spoke up during the meeting about the rebuild of the Mackintosh building. He said: "What context are we to consider this in? In no other situation would we be considering the impact on a burnt-out ruin of a building.
"Although the global significance of the Mackintosh is understood.
"If we don't take this opportunity to approve this proposal, we may see it lie derelict like it has for a decade."
Councillor Eva Bolander refuted claims that the Glasgow School of Art had no concrete plans to rebuild the architect's work.
She said: "The Art School have never stated any other intention than restoring the Mackintosh Building."
However, after satisfying some of the questions the councillors fielded, they came to the vote.
The chair of the meeting, Councillor Ken Andrew, approved. He said: "It's with some regret that I will support this.
"On balance, I think that the benefits of developing the site outweigh the negatives."
Part of the meeting's appeasing of some concerns was the notion that the approval would be subject to conditions.
One of the conditions set was that the Macfarlane cast iron screen, which formed part of the portico of the O2 ABC, would be displayed to the public in the development.
The other conditions include a Section 75 order, which will require the developers to contribute to the area through the council.
The proposed Vita development, featuring their House of Social brand, will bring around £70million investment to Sauchiehall Street.
The student accommodation would feature 356 bed spaces, comprising 306 four, five, and six-bedroom ‘houses’ with a shared kitchen and lounge and 50 studio spaces. It would also feature a fitness centre, social and study spaces, café-style lounges, and cycle storage.
